Dallas Cowboys lose pair of top defenders to injury for multiple weeks
The Dallas Cowboys’ win over the New York Giants did not come without a cost, as sources confirmed that three-time All-Pro defensive end Micah Parsons and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will miss multiple weeks due to injuries suffered on Thursday night. NFL Network was the first to report the news.
Parsons, who exited the game late in the fourth quarter and was later carted to the locker room, is dealing with a high ankle sprain and will “miss multiple weeks.” The team’s hope is that he can rehab and return after the team’s week seven bye when the Cowboys travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.
Lawrence, who exited in the third quarter, is dealing with a foot sprain and will see a specialist to determine the severity and the rehab plan for the coming weeks. Regardless, the injury is expected to sideline the 32-year-old for multiple games.
“Both Micah and DeMarcus are getting second opinions,” head coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday. “D-Law’s is worse than Micah’s. I don’t have a specific timeline, we’ll get into that a little deeper on Monday. I do know there will be second opinions involved with these guys. They are worse than we anticipated.”
The Cowboys will now turn to rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland for an increased workload. The product of Western Michigan University was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by Dallas in April and has recorded eight tackles on the season. Other options for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer include fourth-year defensive lineman Chauncey Golston, second-year defensive end Tyrus Wheat and practice squad member Carl Lawson.
“We’ll have a plan for the players when they get back on Monday,” McCarthy said.
If either Parsons or Lawrence hit the injured reserve list, they will be required to miss at least four weeks before returning to action. That would allow Dallas to sign a player to the active 53-man roster without waiving or releasing another player.
Parsons is set to miss the first games of his career due to injury. In his first three seasons, he only missed one game: a week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 in which most Dallas starters rested for the ensuing playoffs.
Lawrence, who broke his foot in 2021 and missed nine games, will miss extended time for only the third time in his 11-year career. He broke his foot initially in 2014 as a rookie and underwent back surgery in 2016.
DaRon Bland nearing return
The Cowboys have been without 2023 All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland at the start of the season as he works his way back from a foot surgery he needed last month. After starting the season on the injured reserve, Bland will be eligible to return to practice as soon as Monday and ramp up for as long as 21 days before needing to be activated onto the 53-man roster.
While his return to practice is on the table for the team’s upcoming week of preparation for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones implied that it was not likely that he would be ready to play in time for the week five matchup.
“Probably not this week,” Jones said. “But he’s getting closer.”
Head coach Mike McCarthy said that Bland will do some expanded on-field work this upcoming week with director of rehabilitation Britt Brown.
If the Cowboys are without Bland for a fifth straight week, the team will then look at the health of rookie cornerback Caelen Carson who has been battling a shoulder injury that kept him out of Thursday night’s bout against the Giants. If he also cannot go, practice squad cornerback Amani Oruwariye stole the show with a game-sealing interception in the game’s final minute on Daniel Jones and could warrant more playing time against the Steelers.
This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 2:11 PM.
